Systems and methods for providing respiratory therapy

ABSTRACT

A system for respiratory therapy may include a nebulizer, an adaptor, and a nasal cannula. The nebulizer is operable to generate an aerosolized medicament and pass the aerosolized medicament through a nebulizer outlet port. The adaptor has a nebulizer coupling port configured to be coupled to the nebulizer outlet port. The nasal cannula is configured to provide a flow of breathing gas from a breathing gas source to the patient. The nasal cannula includes at least one nasal prong and an attachment device positioned adjacent the at least one nasal prong. The attachment device is configured to secure the adaptor outlet port adjacent an outlet of the nasal prong. A method includes securing a nasal cannula to the patient, attaching an adaptor to the nasal cannula, generating an aerosolized medicament, transferring the aerosolized medicament into the adaptor, and providing a flow of breathing gas to the patient.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/141,492, filed Apr. 28, 2016 (now allowed), which is a continuationof Ser. No. 13/749,162 filed Jan. 24, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,333,317)which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/590,045, filedJan. 24, 2012, the contents of each of the foregoing applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to respiratory therapy, and moreparticularly to systems and methods for use in providing respiratorytherapy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Patients with respiratory ailments may be administered supplementalbreathing gases, such as oxygen, for example, to aid in respiration.These breathing gases are typically provided from a breathing gassupply, such as an oxygen tank. A delivery device, such as a nasalcannula, may be coupled to the breathing gas supply and inserted into apatient's nasal passages for delivery of the breathing gas to thepatient for inhalation.

Separately, respiratory medications may be administered throughinhalation directly to the patient's lungs. These respiratorymedications may be aerosolized by a nebulizer in order to generate smallparticles of the medication, which facilitate distribution throughoutthe patient's lungs during inhalation. Conventional nebulizers drawliquid medicament from a liquid reservoir to form a nebulized aerosolfor inhalation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are directed to systems and methods forrespiratory therapy.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system forproviding respiratory therapy to a patient is disclosed. The systemcomprises a nebulizer, an adaptor, and a nasal cannula. The nebulizerhas a nebulizer outlet port. The nebulizer is operable to generate anaerosolized medicament and pass the aerosolized medicament through thenebulizer outlet port. The adaptor has an adaptor body, a nebulizercoupling port, and an adaptor outlet port. The nebulizer coupling portof the adaptor is configured to be coupled to the nebulizer outlet portof the nebulizer. The nasal cannula is configured to provide a flow ofbreathing gas from a breathing gas source to the patient. The nasalcannula comprises at least one nasal prong and an attachment devicepositioned adjacent the at least one nasal prong. The attachment deviceis configured to secure the adaptor outlet port adjacent an outlet ofthe nasal prong.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofproviding respiratory therapy to a patient is disclosed. The methodcomprises securing a nasal cannula to the patient, attaching an adaptorto the nasal cannula using an attachment device such that an adaptoroutlet port of the adaptor is positioned adjacent an outlet of a nasalprong of the nasal cannula, generating an aerosolized medicament with anebulizer, transferring the aerosolized medicament into the adaptorthrough a nebulizer coupling port of the adaptor, and providing a flowof breathing gas to the patient through the nasal prong such that theaerosolized medicament is drawn outward from the adaptor through theadaptor outlet port and inhaled by the patient with the flow ofbreathing gas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is best understood from the following detailed descriptionwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings, with likeelements having the same reference numerals. When a plurality of similarelements are present, a single reference numeral may be assigned to theplurality of similar elements with a small letter designation referringto specific elements. When referring to the elements collectively or toa non-specific one or more of the elements, the small letter designationmay be dropped. According to common practice, the various features ofthe drawings are not drawn to scale, unless otherwise indicated. On thecontrary, the dimensions of the various features may be expanded orreduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an image illustrating an exemplary system for providingrespiratory therapy in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an image illustrating an exemplary adaptor of the system ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are images illustrating an exemplary nasal cannula of thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for providingrespiratory therapy in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an image illustrating another exemplary system for providingrespiratory therapy in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methodsfor providing respiratory therapy to a patient. These exemplaryembodiments may be particularly suitable for providing an aerosolizedmedicament to a patient via a breathing device, such as a nasal cannula.Suitable medicaments for use with the disclosed systems will be known toone of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, while the exemplaryembodiments are described herein for use in conjunction with a nasalcannula, it will be understood that other breathing devices may be usedwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

As a general overview, the disclosed embodiments of the presentinvention are usable to provide aerosolized medicament along with a flowof breathing gas to a patient. The embodiments operate by using theslipstream effect to entrain the aerosolized medicament in the flow ofbreathing gas. As the flow of breathing gas leaves a breathing device(such as a nasal cannula) for inhalation by the patient, the aerosolizedmedicament is drawn into the breathing gas slipstream, and therebyinhaled by the patient along with the breathing gas.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an exemplary system100 for providing respiratory therapy to a patient in accordance withaspects of the present invention. Generally, system 100 includes anebulizer 110, an adaptor 130, and a nasal cannula 150. Additionaldetails of system 100 will be described herein.

Nebulizer 110 is operable to generate an aerosolized medicament.Nebulizer 110 includes an aerosol generator (not shown) that aerosolizesa medicament contained within nebulizer 110. As shown in FIG. 2,nebulizer 110 also includes a nebulizer outlet port 112 at the bottom ofnebulizer 110. For example, nebulizer 110 may use an electrical signalto draw fluid into a vibratory aerosolization element (not shown), togenerate an aerosol mist in the form of a low velocity cloud ofaerosolized medicament. The cloud of aerosolized medicament exitsnebulizer 110 by passing through nebulizer outlet port 112. In anexemplary embodiment, nebulizer 110 is the AERONEB® Solo nebulizer,available from Aerogen, Ltd of Galway, Ireland. However, essentially anyconventional nebulizer may be used (with corresponding modifications tothe size of the nebulizer coupling port of the adaptor), as would beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the descriptionherein.

Adaptor 130 is couplable to nebulizer 110. As shown in FIG. 2, adaptor130 has an adaptor body 132 defining a mixing chamber. Adaptor 130includes a nebulizer coupling port 134 and an adaptor outlet port 136.Ports 134 and 136 each open into the mixing chamber defined by adaptorbody 132. Nebulizer coupling port 134 of adaptor 130 is configured to becoupled to the outlet port 112 of nebulizer 110 (e.g., by friction fit)in order to receive the cloud of aerosolized medicament. Accordingly,the size of nebulizer coupling port 134 may be selected based on thenebulizer 110 used with system 100. The cloud of aerosolized medicamentmay then pass into the adaptor body 132. Suitable materials for formingadaptor 130 will be known to one of ordinary skill in the art from thedescription herein.

Adaptor 130 may desirably have an adaptor outlet port 136 that islimited in size (e.g., less than 1 mm in diameter). Adapter outlet port136 may have a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional areaof nebulizer coupling port 134. Adaptor outlet port 136 may beconfigured to be attached to a corresponding attachment device of nasalcannula 150, as will be described in greater detail below.

In an exemplary embodiment, adaptor body 132 is an approximatelycone-shaped body between nebulizer coupling port 134 and adaptor outletport 136, as shown in FIG. 2. The cone-shaped body may further include acylindrical portion extending therefrom for attachment to nebulizeroutlet port 112. Adaptor body 132 is shaped such that adaptor outletport 136 has a cross-sectional area less than that of nebulizer couplingport 134. This feature may be desirable in order to precisely regulatethe flow of aerosolized medicament from adaptor 130.

Adaptor 130 may comprise a vent hole 138. Vent hole 138 is positionedbetween nebulizer coupling port 134 and adaptor outlet port 136. Venthole 138 enables venting of pressure that may build up within adaptor130 during use of system 100. This may be desirable when the flow ofaerosolized medicament from nebulizer 110 into adaptor 130 is in excessof the flow of aerosolized medicament out of adaptor outlet port 136. Inthis embodiment, adaptor 130 may further comprise a shielding portion140. Shielding portion 140 is positioned to prevent obstruction of venthole 138 so that adaptor 130 can function normally during use. Shieldingportion 140 can be integrally formed with adaptor body 132, as shown inFIG. 2.

Adaptor 130 may desirably be removably attached to nebulizer 110, asshown in FIG. 2. In an exemplary embodiment, nebulizer coupling port 134is configured to be slidably received within nebulizer outlet port 112.Removably attaching adaptor 130 to nebulizer 110 may enable multipleadaptors 130 having differently sized adaptor outlet ports 136 to beused with system 100. This may be desirable to change the amount ofaerosolized medicament provided during use of system 100.

While adaptor 130 is illustrated as having a single adaptor outlet port136, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that theinvention is not so limited. Adaptor 130 may be designed to include apair of spaced apart adapter outlet ports 136. The spacing between thepair of adaptor outlet ports 136 may be selected to correspond to thespacing between nasal prongs of an associated nasal cannula, so that theaerosolized medicament may be provided through both nares of the patient(instead of via a single nare).

Nasal cannula 150 is configured to provide a flow of breathing gas froma breathing gas source to the patient. In an exemplary embodiment, nasalcannula 150 comprises a first supply tube 152, a second supply tube 154,and a cannula body 156, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Supply tubes 152 and154 are elongated, hollow lumens. Supply tubes 152 and 154 may beconnected to a connector (not shown) in order to receive breathing gasfrom a breathing gas source. Thereby, supply tubes 152 and 154 enablefluid communication between the breathing gas source and cannula body156.

Cannula body 156 is coupled to the ends of supply tubes 152 and 154. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, cannula body 156 includes nasal prongs 158 and160 extending from cannula body 156. When nasal cannula 150 is securedto the patient, nasal prongs 158 and 160 are positioned withinrespective nares of the patient. Nasal prongs 158 and 160 provide theflow of breathing gas received from supply tubes 152 and 154 to thepatient.

Nasal cannula 150 may further comprise an attachment device 162. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, attachment device 162 is provided on cannulabody 156 and positioned adjacent one of the nasal prongs 160. In oneembodiment, attachment device 162 is positioned directly adjacent thebase of nasal prong 160.

Attachment device 162 is configured to secure adaptor outlet port 136adjacent an outlet of nasal prong 160. In particular, attachment device162 may position adaptor outlet port 136 substantially within ordirectly below a nare of the patient when nasal cannula 150 is securedto the patient, on an anterior surface of cannula body 156. In this way,the aerosolized medicament from nebulizer 110 may be provided to thepatient along with the flow of breathing gas from nasal cannula 150using the slipstream effect. When adaptor outlet port 136 is secured byattachment device 162, the aerosolized medicament may desirably be drawninto the breathing gas slipstream, and thereby inhaled by the patientalong with the breathing gas. It may be desirably that adaptor outletport 136 be positioned outside of the nare of the patient (i.e. directlybelow the nare), in order to avoid obstructing the patient's nare duringuse.

In one embodiment, the above-described slipstreaming effect may beincreased through the use of a nasal cannula 150 having a shorter nasalprong. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, nasal cannula 150 includes one nasalprong 160 that is shorter than the other nasal prong 158, e.g.,approximately half as long. A suitable length for shorter nasal prong160 may be between approximately 3-4 mm for infant and pediatricpatients, and between approximately 6-7 mm for adult patients.Attachment device 162 is positioned directly adjacent the base of theshorter nasal prong 160. The use of a nasal cannula 150 having thisdesign enables system 100 to have one nasal prong 158 optimized for thedelivery of breathing gas and one nasal prong 160 optimized forslipstreaming aerosolized medicament.

Attachment device 162 may comprise a loop configured to receive aportion of adaptor 130 therethrough, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.Correspondingly, adaptor 130 may comprise a protrusion adapted to bereceived within the attachment device 162 of the nasal cannula 150. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, adaptor 130 comprises a protrusion (definingadaptor outlet port 136) which may be received in the loop during use ofsystem 100.

While attachment device 162 is shown in FIG. 3 as a loop, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is notso limited. Attachment device 162 may comprise any structure adapted tosecure a portion of adaptor 130 to nasal cannula 150 in the properposition (i.e., in a position which allows slipstreaming of theaerosolized medicament within the flow of breathing gas from nasalcannula 150). Suitable structures include, for example, U-clips,hook-and-loop fasteners, or magnets. Other suitable attachment devices162 will be known to one of ordinary skill from the description herein.

In an alternative embodiment, nasal cannula 150 does not include anattachment device, and/or adaptor 130 does not include a protrusion forcoupling to the attachment device. In this embodiment, adaptor 130 maybe held in place during use. Adaptor body 132 may comprise one or morestructures (such as wings, grips, depressions, or other features) thatfacilitate proper positioning and holding of adaptor 130 by the user.Suitable structures for assisting the user in holding or positioningadaptor 130 will be known to one of ordinary skill in the art from thedescription herein.

System 100 is not limited to the above components, but may includealternative or additional components, as would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art.

For one example, system 100 may further comprise a source of breathinggas. The source of breathing gas provides breathing gas for inhalationby a user of system. The source may desirably generate heated andhumidified breathing gas. In an exemplary embodiment, the breathing gassource is the Vapotherm 200Di, the Vapotherm Precision Flow, theVapotherm Flowrest System, or the Vapotherm Careflow system provided byVapotherm, Inc of Stevensville, Md., USA. Other suitable breathing gassources will be known to one of ordinary skill in the art from thedescription herein. The source of breathing gas may be coupled to supplytubes 152 and 154 of nasal cannula 150, in order to provide thebreathing gas to the patient.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 200 for providingrespiratory therapy in accordance with aspects of the present invention.Method 200 may be implemented using the exemplary system 100 describedabove. Generally, method 200 includes securing a nasal cannula to thepatient, attaching an adaptor to the nasal cannula, generating anaerosolized medicament, transferring the aerosolized medicament to theadaptor, and providing a flow of breathing gas to the patient.Additional details of method 200 will be described herein with referenceto system 100.

In step 210, a nasal cannula is secured to the patient. In an exemplaryembodiment, nasal cannula 150 is secured to the patient. When nasalcannula 150 is secured to the patient, nasal prongs 158 and 160 arepositioned within respective nares of the patient.

In step 220, an adaptor is attached to the nasal cannula. In anexemplary embodiment, adaptor 130 is attached to nasal cannula 150 usingattachment device 162. Adaptor 130 is attached to nasal cannula 150 suchthat adaptor outlet port 136 is positioned adjacent an outlet of nasalprong 160 of nasal cannula 150. In particular, attachment device 162 mayposition adaptor outlet port 136 substantially within or directly belowa nare of the patient when nasal cannula 150 is secured to the patientin step 210.

As set forth above, attachment device 162 may comprise a loop, andadaptor 130 may comprise a protrusion adapted to be received within theloop. Accordingly, step 220 may comprise positioning a protrusion of theadaptor 130 within the loop.

Additionally, as set forth above, nasal cannula 150 may include onenasal prong 160 that is shorter than the other nasal prong 158.Accordingly, step 220 may comprise attaching adaptor 130 to nasalcannula 150 such that adaptor outlet port 136 is positioned adjacent anoutlet of the shorter nasal prong 160, in order to optimizeslipstreaming of the aerosolized medicament.

In step 230, an aerosolized medicament is generated. In an exemplaryembodiment, nebulizer 110 generates an aerosolized medicament,substantially as described above.

In step 240, the aerosolized medicament is transferred into the adaptor.In an exemplary embodiment, the aerosolized medicament generated bynebulizer 110 passes out of nebulizer 110 through the nebulizer outputport 112. Adaptor 130 is coupled to nebulizer 110 such that theaerosolized medicament passes in through nebulizer coupling port 134into adaptor body 132 of adaptor 130.

In step 250, a flow of breathing gas is provided to the patient. In anexemplary embodiment, a flow of breathing gas is provided to the patientthrough nasal prongs 158 and 160 of nasal cannula 150. Due to thepositioning of adaptor outlet port 136 within attachment device 162, theflow of breathing gas causes the aerosolized medicament within adaptor130 to be drawn outward from adaptor 130 through adaptor outlet port 136and inhaled by the patient with the flow of breathing gas.

Thereby, step 250 uses the slipstream effect to entrain the aerosolizedmedicament in the flow of breathing gas. As set forth above, theslipstreaming effect may be enhanced where adaptor outlet port 136 has across-sectional area less than that of nebulizer coupling port 134.

Method 200 is not limited to the above steps, but may includealternative or additional steps, as would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art.

For one example, adaptor 130 may be removably attachable to nebulizer110, as described above with respect to system 100. Accordingly, method200 may include the step of removably attaching adaptor 130 to nebulizer110.

For another example, adaptor 130 may comprise a vent hole 138 forenabling release of pressure from within adaptor 130. Accordingly,method 200 may include the step of venting a portion of the aerosolizedmedicament from adaptor 130 using vent hole 138.

For yet another example, adaptor 130 may comprise a drainage port, asdescribed in greater detail below. Accordingly, method 200 may includethe step of draining a liquid medicament from adaptor 130 via thedrainage port. Where the system further comprises a syringe, thedraining step may comprise withdrawing the liquid medicament from theadaptor with a syringe.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary system 300 for providingrespiratory therapy to a patient in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention. Generally, system 300 includes a nebulizer 310 and anadaptor 330. Additional details of system 300 will be described herein.

Nebulizer 310 is operable to generate an aerosolized medicament. Asshown in FIG. 6, nebulizer 310 includes a nebulizer outlet port 312 atthe bottom of nebulizer 310. Nebulizer 310 may be a nebulizersubstantially as described above with respect to nebulizer 110.

Adaptor 330 is couplable to nebulizer 310. As shown in FIG. 6, adaptor330 has an adaptor body 332 defining a mixing chamber. Adaptor 330includes a nebulizer coupling port 334 and an adaptor outlet port 336.Ports 334 and 336 each open into the mixing chamber defined by adaptorbody 332. Adaptor 330 may include any of the features described abovewith respect to adaptor 130. Nebulizer coupling port 334 of adaptor 330is configured to be coupled to the outlet port 312 of nebulizer 310(e.g., by friction fit) in order to receive the cloud of aerosolizedmedicament. Adaptor 330 may include any of the features described abovewith respect to adaptor 130.

Adaptor 330 further comprises a drainage port 342. Drainage port 342enables drainage of liquid medicament from adaptor body 332. In anexemplary embodiment, adaptor 330 may accumulate excess liquidmedicament within adaptor body 332 during use. This excess liquidmedicament may interfere with regular operation of system 300.Accordingly, adaptor 330 is provide with drainage port 342 to enabledrainage of this excess liquid medicament, and regular operation ofsystem 300.

In an exemplary embodiment, drainage port 342 comprises an elbow-shapedlumen extending outwardly from adaptor body 332, as shown in FIG. 6. Theelbow-shaped lumen has a first end 344 affixed to adaptor body 332 and asecond end 346 distal from adaptor body 332. Distal end 346 extends inthe direction of nebulizer coupling port 334 and away from adaptoroutlet port 336. This enables coupling distal end 346 to a syringe 348without interfering with use of system 300. While drainage port 342 isillustrated as an elbow-shaped lumen, it will be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art that it is not so limited. Drainage port 342could for example be a straight lumen, or could have any other desirableshape. Additionally, while drainage port 342 is illustrated assubstantially rigid, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art that drainage port 342 could be formed from a flexible material.

As shown in FIG. 6, system 300 further comprises syringe 348. Syringe348 is adapted to be coupled to distal end 346 of drainage port 342.Syringe 348 is configured to withdrawn liquid medicament from adaptorbody 332 via drainage port 342. For example, syringe 348 may include aplunger which can be pulled outward by a user of system 300 in order towithdraw the liquid medicament. The liquid withdrawn by syringe 348 mayadditionally be reused to generate aerosolized medicament with nebulizer310. Suitable syringes for use as syringe 348 will be known to one ofordinary skill in the art from the description herein. It will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other objects may beused to facilitate withdrawing liquid medicament from adaptor body 332without departing from the invention.

Adaptor body 332 may be an approximately cone-shaped body betweennebulizer coupling port 334 and adaptor outlet port 336, as shown inFIG. 6. The cone-shaped body may further include a cylindrical portionextending therefrom for attachment to nebulizer outlet port 312. In thisembodiment, drainage port 342 is formed in the cone-shaped body.Preferably, drainage port 342 is formed on a lower portion of adaptorbody 332, to enable gravity to assist in drainage of adaptor body 332.

Adaptor 330 may comprise a vent hole 338 positioned between nebulizercoupling port 334 and adaptor outlet port 336. Drainage port 342 may beformed on an opposite side of adaptor body from vent hole 338.

System 300 may further include a nasal cannula configured to provide aflow of breathing gas from a breathing gas source to a patient. In anexemplary embodiment, system 300 includes a nasal cannula substantiallyas described above with respect to nasal cannula 350.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein withreference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to belimited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be madein the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claimsand without departing from the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A system for providing respiratory therapy to apatient comprising: a nebulizer having a nebulizer outlet port, thenebulizer operable to generate an aerosolized medicament and pass theaerosolized medicament through the nebulizer outlet port; an adaptorhaving an adaptor body, nebulizer coupling port, and an adaptor outletport, the nebulizer coupling port of the adaptor configured to becoupled to the nebulizer outlet port of the nebulizer; and a nasalcannula configured to provide a flow of breathing gas from a breathinggas source to the patient, the nasal cannula comprising: a cannula bodywith at least one nasal prong and an attachment device positionedadjacent the at least one nasal prong, the attachment device configuredto secure the adaptor outlet port adjacent an outlet of the at least onenasal prong in a position that allows slipstreaming of aerosol from theadaptor outlet port into a flow of gas exiting the nasal cannula, suchthat the breathing gas mixes with the aerosolized medicament from thenebulizer before inhalation by the patient; and a supply tube forenabling fluid communication between the cannula body and a breathinggas source.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor outlet porthas a cross-sectional area less than the nebulizer coupling port.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the adaptor body comprises a cone-shaped bodyextending between the nebulizer coupling port and the adaptor outletport, the cone-shaped body oriented such that the adaptor outlet porthas the cross-sectional area less than the nebulizer coupling port. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor outlet port comprises aprotrusion adapted to be received within the attachment device of thenasal cannula.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor bodycomprises a vent hole positioned between the nebulizer coupling port andthe adaptor outlet port, the vent hole enabling venting of pressure fromthe adaptor.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the adaptor furthercomprises a shielding portion positioned adjacent the vent hole, theshielding portion disposed to prevent obstruction of the vent hole. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor is removably attached to thenebulizer.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the nebulizer coupling portis configured to be slidably received within the nebulizer outlet port.9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one nasal prong comprisesa pair of nasal prongs, and the attachment device is positioned directlyadjacent a base of one of the pair of nasal prongs.
 10. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the one nasal prong of the pair of nasal prongs isshorter than the other nasal prong of the pair of nasal prongs, andwherein the attachment device is positioned directly adjacent the baseof the shorter nasal prong.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein theattachment device is configured to position the adaptor outlet portdirectly below a nare of the patient when the nasal cannula is securedto the patient.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment devicecomprises a loop configured to receive a portion of the adaptortherethrough.
 13. The system of claim 1, the adaptor further comprisinga drainage port configured to drain liquid medicament from the adaptorbody.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the drainage port comprises anelbow-shaped lumen extending outwardly from the adaptor body.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein an end of the elbow-shaped lumen distal theadaptor body extends in the direction of the nebulizer coupling port.16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a syringe adapted to becoupled to the end of the elbow-shaped lumen distal the adaptor body,the syringe configured to withdraw medicament from the adaptor body.